A DEFENSIVE mistake nine minutes from time allowed Leigh to salvage a point from a game they should have won at a canter.

RMI dominated the first-half and created a string of chances but frustratingly could not find the target.

They paid dearly by going behind in the 22nd minute to the visitor's first chance of the game when John Fletcher's swinging corner was not cleared properly by the defence and Trevor Jones rifled the ball home.

Kevin Booth and Paul Wheeler missed gilt edged chances while the talented Chris Bermingham was unlucky to see his attempted chip just held by the 'keeper.

The second-half erupted in dramatic style when Bermingham and Carl Calvert were both booked for fighting but thankfully that was the last of the fisticuffs.

Stocksbridge reorganised at the break and Leigh found it even harder to penetrate the defence of a side unbeaten in any competition this season.

Leigh's smooth passing game became stifled but it was the turn of the Yorkshiremen to waste a glorious chance when Calvert shot over from close range.

Just when it looked as though Leigh would lose their first game since the opening day of the season lady luck came to their rescue when central defender Craig Chadburn mistimed his back header to the 'keeper and Chris Shaw raced through in a flash to keep a cool head to chip home a deserved equaliser.

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